There are a number of sections in South Africa’s Constitution, which deal directly with the concept of public participation, charging both Houses of the National Parliament and all Provincial Legislatures with the responsibility of facilitating public participation. Additionally, Section 118 (1) makes provision for the public to have access to Provincial Legislatures and to be involved in legislative processes. It states that Provincial Legislatures must facilitate such public involvement.

The words ‘Institutional and Government Relations’ are  increasingly being used in the field of public policy advocacy. Basically it refers to ‘Relationship Management’ on behalf of a client (Consultant), Company/Organization (in-house) for the purpose of raising the public image with legislators, institutional representatives and the media.

Major functions and tasks may include:

AALEP is intent on building global partnerships with other associations of government relations professionals in order to enhance the impact of the profession throughout the world.

A new European Commission, a new European Parliament means an entirely different set of rules, players, and a dramatically altered landscape for Public Policy Advocates . Today, the number of organizations vying for the EU attention has increased exponentially which means that getting your Public Policy Advocacy message to the right person, at the right time, has never been so critical - or so challenging. Transparency, accountability and a shift in decision making powers continue to increase the complicated juggling act that Public Policy Advocacy staff are expected to perform.

The Global North no longer has complete control over global trade, finance and economic exchanges. The emergence of China as a global economic power house is a real statement to a changing world economic order. By 2030 the following Non-EU countries will be super economic powers : 1.China,2. USA, 3.India, 4. Japan,5. Russia,6. Brazil,7. Mexico,8. Indonesia, 9.Turkey,10.South Korea, 11. Canada,12. Saudi Arabia, 13.Australia and 14. Argentina.

Each Commissioner is first nominated by their member state in consultation with the Commission President, although the President holds little practical power to force a change in candidate. The more capable the candidate is, the more likely the Commission President will assign them a powerful portfolio, the distribution of which is entirely at his discretion. The President's team is then subject to hearings at the European Parliament which will question them and then vote on their suitability as a whole.

The Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) points out that the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Australia and New Zealand is an important conduit for advocacy of Australia’s interest.

Here below are the European Parliament Delegations for Relations with 10 major countries. For each country, is displayed their total number of Members in their respective houses (some countries are unicameral, others are bicameral). Next is displayed the number of MEPs appointed as members of the EP delegation for relations with that particular country, also expressed as a percentage of the total 751 MEPs in the European Parliament.

China: National People’s Congress 2987 Members (2013) EP Delegation for Relations with China: 37 MEPs (4.9% of the EP)

Japan has more interest groups, more organizations of people seeking to get their views represented in the political system, than is true for almost any other country except for the United States itself. Japan is a nation of joiners. To understand how the political system works, one has to look at the structure of interest groups and map the interest group organizations that are so important a player in the Japanese political system.

Based on information provided by the Mexican Ministry of Interior Unit of Legal Affairs, there are 258 Lobbyists registered in the House of Representatives (Parliamentary Gazette, October 2012). The Senate does not have a Lobbyists Registry.

The National Association of Professional Lobbyists (PROCAB), Asociacion Nacional de Profesionales del Cabildeo (see below) counts 23 members. Lobbying firms in Mexico generate annual revenues of US$ 20 million.